Trusting in the Storms

I can't seem to get 1 Kings 19:11-13 out of my head.  I've been thinking about it for the last couple of days.  Elijah was willing to weather the storms to hear the voice of his God.  Think about these verses.  11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.  And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?

Imagine you are in a cave.  The wind is howling, screaming so loudly, moving so violently that the mountain around you is being torn apart.  Trees are being ripped from the ground and thrown like twigs, rocks are breaking into pieces.  On top of that everything is shaking and rolling.  I would think you would be terrified, fearing the collapse of the cave you're in, fearing being buried alive.  Then a roaring fire, scorching the earth around you.  Heat and flames licking at the mouth of the cave, the smoke thick outside, seeping into your hiding place.   Now, think about the God you serve.  Think about His power and might.  He is so awesome and fearful that when He comes close, wind, earthquakes and roaring fire proceed Him.  And yet Elijah still, when all was quiet ventured to the mouth of that cave to see his Lord, to hear his Lord's voice.  Fear gave way to faith.  Self-pity and questions gave way to trust and comfort.  

What are we willing to weather to hear God's voice?  Jeremiah 29:13-14   If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”   Elijah was willing to travel 40 miles and hang out in a cave while the world seemed to come apart around him, just to hear the voice of God.  He sought God with all his heart.  He weathered both internal and external storms.  Fear, doubt, self-pity on the inside, wind, earthquake, fire on the outside and yet Elijah stepped out of the cave to speak with His loving Father.  

Lord, thank You that even when the chaos surround us, You are in the midst.  Your Presence is with us and Your voice calms our hearts.  Help us to listen, to trust and to walk in faith.  In Jesus' mighty name.  Amen.

Be still and know that He is God.  

God Distancing

Here is my typical Sunday night overnight discussion with the Lord.  "Lord, I can't sleep.  Lord, why don't You help me sleep?  You know I have a long day tomorrow.  It's Monday.  Lord, why does it matter to anyone but me if I get enough sleep going into a 18 hour day?  What would it matter to the kingdom if You helped me rest?  I'm done.  You won't help me anyway.  I don't want to talk to You anymore.  Lord, I need to sleep.  Lord could You bless so and so.  Lord, help!"  On and on, hour after we go through this more often than not on that particular day of the week.  LOL  And finally around  3 am I fell asleep, only to be awakened by the alarm at 6:45.  Ugh.  But as usual, I made it through the day.  And yes I know it was the Lord's strength that got me there.  

So, needless to say, I didn't have the greatest "me and God" day.  I was still angry, still disappointed.  I was socially distancing God!  Just that morning I had read a devotional entitled "Celebrate Change."  The author (Joyce Meyer) encouraged me to realize that while I needed to change certain thoughts and behaviors, I could still enjoy the Lord's acceptance and love.  As I worked with the Holy Spirit, He would work on my weak spots and failures.  Well, as we can see from the above conversation, I had some work to do.  I need a lot more trust and faith and a lot less wanting my way.  

Well, at the time the devotional felt empty to me.  I was still in a snit with the Lord, and it was all dry words on a page.  So after a quick read and thank You Lord, off I went to plow through the hours of Monday.  Fast forward to lunch time.  I took out my "Prayer Journal for Women," intending to start the week's entries.  I read the two verses that accompanied this week.  Okay.  What.  Not seeing anything here.  Hummph.  And then I started writing in the section entitled, "things on my heart."  As I poured out my thoughts on how I felt so distant from my Father right then, I realized the whole disappointment with His unwillingness to help me get a good nights sleep had left me pulling back from Him.  I couldn't connect.  As I shared my feelings the first verse came to mind.  1 Kings 19:11-13  The Lord said, "God out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."  Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.  After the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.  

In the reflection section of this weeks exercise, the explanation was given that in order to hear someone whisper, you need to be right next to them.  Well, I heard nothing in this mornings devotional, the verses here felt empty to me as well....what was the explanation?  I had moved away from God.  A. Because He had disappointed me.  B.  Because I felt ashamed of my behavior towards Him that day.   I had moved away and couldn't hear His still, small voice.  Wow.  As I sat there contemplating this whole things, peace settled in my heart.  It wasn't a rushing wave, or cascading waterfall...but a gentle stillness that overtook my heart.  I knew I had moved back into His embrace.  

No matter what happens, we get mad at God, we feel like a failure, we walk away from His Presence, open arms await us when we turn back.  As we get closer, we hear our Father's whisper calling us home.  As I sit here I am still so thrilled and overwhelmed with my Father's love.  And grateful.  

Do you feel distant from God?  Did you walk away in pain and disappointment?  Are you ashamed of your sin and failure?  His heart is open, there is always room for us to return.  His love waits and remains true.  Luke 15:32  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.  The Lord will always celebrate our return to Him. 

Lord, thank You.  You know my impatience, You know my childish ways, You know me inside and out, and still welcome me back to Your Presence.  Thank You for never turning Your back, for never walking away.  Your love never fails.  Help us to stay close so that we may hear Your whispers of love and mercy.  In Jesus Name, amen.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  (James 4:8)

Praise Always

The Covid19 pandemic continues on.  Thankfully we are seeing some improvements, lessening of deaths and hospital admissions...My work place on the other hand has seen a rise in cases this last week.  So I ask for continued prayer for all those who are unable to remain home at this time.  But there is still so much to be thankful for in our household.  I'm on an active hunt for gratitude moments!  And there are plenty of them!  One of my favorite is hearing music that lifts my heart.  During this difficult time, praise becomes our greatest weapon.  We may not be able to fight this unseen enemy in the seen world, but our praises will usher in God's Presence and power in the spiritual world.  They will lift us up to the throne of God where we are in a place of peace, a place of love and a place of grace.  Let's end this week on a high note of praise for our heavenly Father and Savior who carry us through all troubles, all tribulations.  No matter what happens we are safe in the shelter of His wings.  We fear not those things or people which can harm the body because we know only the Lord Himself holds our spirits...for now and for eternity. 

Lord, we praise You!  We raise a hallelujah!  You are alive.  We are alive and have breath and praise Your powerful, awesome, love filled name!  You hold our souls in Your hands.  We live in the shadow of Your wings, safe.  You are our high tower, our fortress.  Our home is always with You.  Nothing can ever change that, nothing can ever take that from us.  What blessed people we are!  Praise You holy name!  Praise our Lord and Savior.  Our Defender.  The lover of our souls!  Hallelujah!!  Hallelujah!! 

2 Chronicles 20:15   He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 

Psalm 150  1 Praise the Lord.  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.  3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,  4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,    praise him with the strings and pipe,  5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.  6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord.

Sing a little louder today!! 

On Your Side

Romans 8:31  What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Ephesians 1:4-5   Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 31:3  Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

Romans 5:8  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

What do these verses have in common?  They all show God to be our biggest fan.  He is always on our side, always loving us....even when we make the biggest mistakes, even when we rail at His decisions and ways, even if we run from Him, trying to hide ourselves away.  So if God is for us in every  way....why should we be so set against ourselves?  This has been brought home to me over the last week through a couple of different teachings.  Why am I so against myself?  Why am I not on my own side? 

We criticize, we wallow in guilt, we dissect every mistake, every bad decision over and over again.  It's almost as if God's forgiveness is not enough.  We walk around feeling condemned or less than, forgetting that we have a Savior who loves us.  Who cherishes us.   We say we have repented of the wrongs we have done and then walk away feeling the stains because we carry the guilt away with us instead of leaving at the foot of the Cross. 

God is for us!  God is for me!!  Say that to yourself.  Say it over and over again.  Say it when guilt comes.  Say it when fear comes.  Worry, shame, disgust....say it, say it, say it.  If God is for me....NO ONE can be against me...even myself.  If God is for me, I should be for me too! 

God's love never changes.  When I'm right, when I'm wrong, when I succeed, when I fail...His love remains.  He stay on my side.  Think on these things. 

Romans 8:31-39  31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.  35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.  38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lord, thank You.  You are always on my side.  Teach us to be on our own side.  To love ourselves, to care for ourselves.  Not in a haughty or selfish way...but humbly, because we are Yours, blessed and chosen by You.  Selflessly, that we may serve others because we know our worth comes from You.  Lord, I don't believe You created us or died for us to walk around weighed down by guilt, condemnation or self-hatred,  You didn't make us to be angry at ourselves or live in shame.  You came that we "may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10).  Lord, teach us to live in this fullness....full of joy, full of peace, full of love...all good gifts that come from Your hand.  Teach us to not hate ourselves...heal us.  Let us be people who are on our own sides!  If You are for us why should we be against ourselves. 

Think about God being on your side.  Remind yourself of this often. 

He's Got the Whole World In His Hands.....That Means You.

As this COVID 19 pandemic lingers on, I've been getting a little more worried.  Honestly, I don't feel worry for getting sick, or worry about living now...my concern is for our retirement.  As our intended date grows closer, I fear the financial repercussions of what is happening now.  Will our retirement be there?  Will I have to work longer (something I'm not really going to be able to physically do because of work related injuries).  Will prices and taxes be so high to pay for all the problems now that we will leave in a constant state of worry and need?  These are all the questions coming to the surface of my heart and mind.  Both my husband and myself have worked hard, physical jobs for almost forty years and have been looking forward to the relaxed pace, both physically and financially of retirement.  We knew we'd never be retiring "in style,"  but we figured we would be comfortable enough if we were not extravagant or wasteful.  Now, I'm not so sure, and it scares me.  These are my fears, and the longer this goes on the more they seem to flood my mind.   But God.....

Now, I really didn't know what I was going to be typing here this morning.  It was definitely going to be a "Lord, take the wheel" kind of entry.  He had to be in the driver seat!  And He was.  So I had a little pop up on the computer come up for a new song by Matthew West.  And the song just blew me of what Jesus said John 16:33   I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
He's got this!

Enjoy and be comforted by this song.  Let God's peace and care wash over you this morning, knowing nothing is too hard for our Father, nothing comes to us that He doesn't know how to handle or make something beautiful out of.  And remember that this world is oh so very temporary, eternity at His feet awaits His precious children. 

Thank You Father.   You are amazing, and loving and sweet and wonderful.  I am so grateful to be in Your hands.  There we are always safe.  Lord, I lift up those who are sick, those who are alone (my heart breaks for the elderly in homes and rehabs).  Those who have lost loved ones and those who are struggling in anyway.  Lord, let this time be a time that people seek You.  Let them sense Your love and care and Presence.  Bring healing and wholeness to each life.  Lord, our leaders need Your wisdom, and they need to give You the glory.  See us through this as only You can.  And thank You that You never leave nor forsake us.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Take your fears to the Lord today. 

Who Knew?

James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Ahh, wisdom.  That elusive holy grail we seek for getting through the day and this life.  I've heard it comes with age.  Wisdom is different than knowledge.  Different than knowing facts and information.  It's how to practice life, how to handle living....and in my opinion, gracefully, fruitfully, and glorifying God. 

So yesterday, I was going through my routine at the shelter I volunteer at.  Setting up playpens for the kittens to romp around in, cleaning up, answering phones, juggling cats....the usual.  I was attempting to set up a playpen for one of the kittens and I kept getting it positioned wrong and it's wobbling, threatening to fall over.  And I was getting frustrated.  And I got it wrong some more.  And it wobbled some more.  "God help!!!  Give me wisdom!!!"  LOL   Well, I finally got it set up the way I wanted to, and went about the rest of my routine. 

I guess this whole incident stuck with me, because later on that night it came up in my prayer time at lunch.  "Lord, why didn't You help me get that set up.  Why didn't You tell me what to do instead of letting me struggle?" was my question.  One of the weekly verses in my journal that night was Romans 8:26  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And it got me to thinking.

When I pray for wisdom, what am I praying for exactly?  Most times it's a general plea for help.  But what kind of help?  Digging a little deeper here, I came across the truth in my heart...it wasn't really God's  wisdom I was looking for, but for God to work out what I was doing or wanting in the way I wanted it.  "Show me how to make this work my way."   Uh-oh.  Not exactly what I think the Lord had in mind when He gave James the words in 1:5. 

God's wisdom teaches us to handle things in a godly manner.  It teaches us to stay calm when things go wrong, praise when we are failing, have mercy when others disappoint, trust when we can't see and know when to walk away from situations or emotions that will not bring glory to God.  James describes God's wisdom for us... tells us what it looks like.  James 3:13  If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.  James 3:17  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.  God's wisdom is humble, prefers others and causes us to do good. 

There are certain situations that require specific wisdom, buying a house, taking a job, picking a spouse...and we can ask God for those answers.  Jeremiah 33:3  Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.  Isaiah 30:21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.  He desires to give us direction.  In these situations, following peace is a good way to determine God's will.  Psalm 23:2  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.  He's not going to lead us in a way that causes extreme anxiety, sleeplessness or worry. 

But everyday wisdom seems to involve just learning to live life with a smile instead of an angry countenance, walking in mercy and letting go of expectations of getting our own way in every situation.  Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  Making this our guideline will let us walk in the wisdom of God, being a blessing to others and glorifying the Lord. 

Lord, thank You for everyday wisdom.  You show us that wisdom is not just how to do something, but how to live in peace, how to manage not just our circumstance, but manage ourselves in a godly way, through the power and interceding of the Holy Spirit.  You are amazing.  I love these simple, yet powerful life lessons that You bring.  Thank You for them.  Once again, I am awed by You.  Give us wisdom to glorify You in all things.  Help us know how to manage life, both big and small.  You desire what is good and right for each of us.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Get wisdom! 

The Promise

If you are on Facebook, you know every so often they put up a previous year's picture from your page.  It's a memory from your past posts, maybe a year or sometimes a few years prior.  Well they did that with me a couple of days ago and I thought what they  put up was so apropos for what we've been facing recently.

I have little cards in a small ceramic box, God's  promises for each day.  Each day you pick a card and get an inspiring word or promise based on the Scriptures.  Four years ago on Facebook I posted a picture of that day's card.  

This card said "THE PROMISE OF THE RAINBOW IS NOT FOUND IN CLOUD-FREE DAYS, BUT IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM."  

Wow.  What a powerful God visit.  With all the fear and doubt and turmoil of what the world is going through right now, we have the reminder that God will see us through.  His promises are yea and amen.  2 Corinthians 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.  Because of Christ, and because of who He is, God will fulfill His promise to care for His children, even through this storm.  

Whether we get sick or not, God is there.  Whether we lose a loved one (so incredibly, incredibly hard), God is there.  Through financial hardship, through difficult days, through pandemics....through it all, God is there and we will cling to Him.  It's hard to walk by faith when we are hurting, but we are called to do just that.  Lord, we cannot do this in our own strength.  

Lord, You are our provider, our caregiver our Savior.  Thank You for being always with us.  I am amazed at Your God visits!  Once again, timely and reassuring.  Help us to hang onto Your promises, to hang on to You.  See us through each and every trial that comes our way.  Please supernaturally provide for Your children.  Lord, let us see Your hand in each circumstance today.  And thank You for this reminder that Your promises still stand.  

Support

I have seen so much support going on right now.  People coming together on line for prayer.  People on the "Next Door" app (this app connect people in local communities), sharing their surplus of things like bleach, diapers, lysol....whatever extra they may have that someone else is short on, offering to run errands for seniors, help with child care.  I've been on Post Office Facebook pages, where  I've seen people coming together from all over the country encouraging one another, offering sympathy and a listening ear.   Even if people don't realize it, God is working through hearts to have us help each other. 

My prayer is that we continue this.  We continue to work together to get through the difficult days we are facing.  If we can bless, let's bless.  If we need, let's reach out.  And we definitely need to pray without ceasing.  Even though there is uncertainty and sadness, God's children are called to be light, beacons of His love and goodness. 

Matthew 25:34-39  34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’  37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Matthew 10:42  And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” 

God, You are so good.  We thank You for all You are doing at this time.  We thank You for the way people are fulfilling the mission to "give a cup of water in Your Name."  Let Your children shine Your love.  Lord, we ask You to help us through this time.  We a scared and anxious, but You tell us You are with us, and will be our shield and high tower.  Help us to rest in that.  Lord, I pray for those in nursing homes and care facilities....be there protector, their comfort and their companion.  My heart breaks for those who feel abandoned.  Meet them where they are.  Bring caretakers with sweet hearts and endless patience.  I lift up the caregivers, the nurses and doctors and all working in medical facilities....keep them safe, give them abundance of energy and stamina.  Give our leaders godly wisdom and peacemaker spirits.  Give us the cure for this sickness.  Lord, I pray that you will help those staying home to come up with creative ways to stay sane while stuck inside.  Please help us to get through this financially, it's going to be hard for some to recover, but we know You are the God of more than enough.  You make a way where there seems to be no way.  Rivers through the desert we will see.  Lord, I pray for those still working, store clerks, utility workers, delivery people, airline/airport workers, child care givers, public transportation.....keep them strong.  Give their immune systems an extra boost to fight off this disease and keep things going.  Thank You I can be one of them, please keep me and my co workers safe.  Lord, You alone are our salvation.  You alone are our way maker.  You alone are our peace, our hope.  You alone will carry us through this, as You have carried Your children through past pandemics.  Then, as now the world reeled, but once again, through Your mercy, righted itself.  Thank You that we, Your children can rest in Your care.  Let those who are sick be made well.  Those who have lost loved ones be comforted.  Thank You.  We praise Your Name.  Your are good.  Your are loving.  Your heart is for us, not against us. You are our ultimate support and we lean on the everlasting arms.   In Jesus' mighty Name.  Amen.

We have the greatest support system.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit!